Commercial free to air deal close: Loeliger

The makeup of the NBL’s new free-to-air TV deal will revealed in a couple of weeks, according to NBL CEO Jeremy Loeliger.

With Andrew Bogut signing with the Sydney Kings this year, the league is set to return to commercial free to air TV after being screen on SBS during the 2017-18 season.

Speaking on Afternoons, Loeliger said there were numerous components of the TV deal which are close to being finalised ahead of the season tipping off on October 11.

“We’re all still waiting to see how digital fits into the complication market that is the media environment these days,” he said.

“I think the most likely outcome is we’ll screen our games on a secondary FTA channel but on a good time of day and on a good day of the week.

“We’re still talking to a few commercial networks and after speaking to three of them, we’ve narrowed it down to two at this stage.”

In an extended chat with Shane, Sam and Mieke, Loeliger confirmed the next expansion license will be handed out in August and he expects Andrew Bogut’s first game for the Sydney Kings to break the Qudos Bank Arena attendance record.